By BBBB
The Gambling Commission has announced new rules and guidelines as part of the UK government’s gambling industry reform.
The changes reflect the recommendations made in the white paper – High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age.
Key Highlights of New Changes
Financial Vulnerability Checks and Risk Assessments
Light touch financial vulnerability checks for customers with a net deposit of more than £150 a month on gambling.
Checks will initially come into force at £500 a month from 30th August 2024 reducing to £150 a month from 28th February 2025.
Reducing Intensity of Online Games
New regulations to lower the speed and intensity of online products. This will improve consumer understanding regarding gameplay and potential losses.
This means a ban on:
- Autoplay
- Turbo/Speed up features
- In-game celebrations of wins less than the stake
- Option to play multiple games at once
- Spins speeds of less than 5 seconds
Gambling operators must also display net spend and time spent gambling at all times.
These changes will come into force on 17th January 2025.
Improving Consumer Choice for Direct Marketing
Gambling operators must now provide customers with better options to opt-in and opt-out of direct marketing for gambling products. This applies to online gambling only.
Changes come into force on 17 January 2025.
In-Person Age Verification
All gambling land-based licensees must carry out age verification test purchasing.
Any customer who appears to be under 25 years of age must have their age verified.
Changes will come into effect on 30 August 2024.
Personal Management Licenses
Specific management roles within a gambling business are now expected to hold a personal management licence. Holders ensure that gambling within businesses is safe, fair and crime-free.
Changes come into force on 30 November 2024.
Andrew Rhodes, Gambling Commission CEO, said:
“As a gambling regulator it’s vital that the introduction of new rules is based on evidence and takes into account the views of consumers and other interested parties.
We have listened to the views expressed in our engagement and in the consultation responses, and we have made changes while still ensuring that we deliver meaningful protections.
We are also pleased to be taking forward a pilot of financial risk assessments and data collection, which together will ensure that we can make informed decisions about how these assessments can be implemented in a way that supports both consumer freedom and protections.
We have to get the balance right between protecting people from the potentially life-ruining effects of gambling-related harm and respecting the freedom of adults to engage in an activity that the vast majority do so without experiencing harm.”
English